Robert Henry “Fast Floyd” McKenzie (1950–1993): San Francisco Punk Rock Legend

Fast Floyd and a concert poster for his band

Robert Henry “Fast Floyd” McKenzie was an American guitarist and bandleader best known for his role in the early punk and R&B scenes of New York and San Francisco. A founding member of Mink DeVille, he played guitar alongside his childhood friend Willy DeVille (born William Borsey) during the band’s formative years in San Francisco. When DeVille relocated to New York, McKenzie—known professionally as Fast Floyd—remained in California due to unresolved legal matters and went on to establish a distinctive musical identity on the West Coast.

After leaving Mink DeVille, McKenzie immersed himself in the burgeoning San Francisco punk scene centered around the famed Mabuhay Gardens club. Though he played primarily R&B, Fast Floyd became a fixture in the inclusive and experimental punk milieu of the late 1970s, sharing bills with acts such as DNA, MX-80, The Offs, The Mutants, and The Controllers. He later formed his own group, Fast Floyd and the Famous Firebirds, who gradually refined a hard-edged R&B sound that resonated with a loyal audience independent of the punk movement.

Archival images of Fast Floyd and the Famous Firebirds

By the early 1980s, the Firebirds had become known for their provocative stage shows, especially after the addition of Floyd’s girlfriend “Silke” as a vocalist. Her performances—often in negligees and marked by uninhibited theatrics—earned the group a reputation as “San Francisco’s raunchiest band” and made them perennial favorites at the city’s Exotic Erotic Ball.

In 1983, the group released their sole LP, Devil’s Daughter. The album’s cover featured an uncredited photo of famed exotic dancer Candy Barr (Juanita Dale Slusher), who was widely known for her connections to Jack Ruby and Mickey Cohen, her conviction in a notable marijuana case, and a brief prison sentence for shooting a husband. Barr, having since become a Christian, objected to her image being associated with the album’s title. A copy of her letter to the band survives in the archival record, in which she disputed the photo’s authenticity but nevertheless requested a financial gift should the album turn a profit.

A comprehensive archive of Fast Floyd’s career—containing original lyrics, over 60 promotional flyers, photographs, contact sheets, handwritten setlists, and fan correspondence—provides rich documentation of both his artistic output and the DIY mechanics of life in an independent band during the late 20th century.

The band's only LP release "Devil's Daughter"

McKenzie was also a member of a lesser-known band called The Spiders and maintained a lifelong passion for history, ancient weaponry, and vinyl records. He died by suicide in May 1993. Despite his relatively brief career, Fast Floyd remains a cult figure in the annals of West Coast punk and R&B history.

Sources: Find A Grave, Between the Covers Rare Books archives, Discogs, YouTube, eBay, the Max’s Kansas City 1976 & Beyond album booklet, and the blog Too Short a Life.

Richard “Dick” Duvall (1933–1960): CHP Officer Killed in Line of Duty

Dick Duvall and Grave Marker

Plot 71, Grave 290

Richard “Dick” Duvall (1933–1960) was a California Highway Patrol officer whose tragic death in the line of duty led to lasting changes in law enforcement procedures and posthumous honors in his name.

Born in Oakland, Alameda County, California, in 1933, Duvall was the son of Cecil and Dorothy Jensen Duvall. During his early childhood, the family relocated to San Leandro, where he attended local schools and became a standout football player at San Leandro High School. Following his graduation, Duvall enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving two years before returning to civilian life. He went on to attend Armstrong College of Business in Berkeley, graduating in 1956.

In September 1957, Duvall married Gwenellen “Gwen” Jones. He soon entered the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Academy and, upon completion of his training, was assigned to the Victorville office. There, he served as a patrol officer for just under two years.

On February 23, 1960, Officer Duvall was fatally shot during a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 66 outside Victorville. His final radio message was, “I’m chasing a fast one.” Unbeknownst to Duvall, the motorist he was pursuing, James Kendrick, was an escaped felon in a stolen vehicle, wanted for armed robbery. As Duvall approached the car, the suspect opened fire, killing him instantly. The fugitive was apprehended six days later in Shell Beach, California, after a gunfight with law enforcement. He was convicted of first-degree murder and executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison on November 3, 1961. Authorities believed he may have had an accomplice, but none was ever located.

Officer Duvall’s death, at age 26, was a pivotal moment for the California Highway Patrol. Commissioner Bard Crittenden subsequently implemented a policy requiring officers to work in pairs during graveyard and parts of the evening shifts—a practice designed to increase officer safety during nighttime patrols.

Duvall was survived by his wife Gwen, who was pregnant at the time of his death, and their daughter Deanne. His son, Richard Jr., was born in July 1960.

In 2010, in recognition of his service and sacrifice, a portion of State Highway Route 15 in Victorville was officially named the" CHP Officer Richard D. Duvall Memorial Highway."

There is a Facebook page that honors his life. 

Sources: California Highway Patrol Memorial Records, San Bernardino County Historical Archives Facebook, Find a Grave, San Bernardino Sun and Los Angeles Times.

John D. "Jack" Fletcher (1921–1990): TV and Movie Character Actor

 

Sherman Hemsley and Jack Fletcher

Plot 52D, Lot 129  W 1/2

Jack Fletcher was an American character actor and theater educator whose career spanned stage, film, and television from the early 1960s through the late 1980s.

Born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, Fletcher became a respected presence in both theater and screen. He was deeply involved with the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) in San Francisco, where he taught acting and directed productions, including Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and Richard III. His work at A.C.T. helped shape the careers of emerging performers and contributed to the company’s national reputation for theatrical excellence.

On television, Fletcher was best known for his recurring role as H.L. Whittendale on The Jeffersons, appearing in six episodes between Seasons 4 and 11. His character was the wealthy and eccentric owner of the Whittendale Building, where George and Louise Jefferson’s dry cleaning business was located. Fletcher’s portrayal of the imperious landlord added a recurring dose of corporate satire and class contrast to the show.

Jack Fletcher

Fletcher also made guest appearances on numerous television programs and performed supporting roles in several films. His work was marked by a distinctive presence and versatility across genres.

Television credits include:
The Jeffersons, Bewitched, Chico and the Man, Welcome Back, Kotter, Gimme a Break!, Knots Landing, Charles in Charge, Charlie's Angels, Silver Spoons, Small Wonder, and The Munsters Today.

Film credits include:
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), Pennies from Heaven (1981), Any Wednesday (1966), Rabbit Test (1978), Off Beat (1986), and Once Upon a Mattress (1964).

He died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California, on February 15, 1990, at the age of 68.

Robert Wasson aka "Fat Fairy" (1935-1985): Drag Performer, Chef, and LGBTQ Community Icon

 

Robert Wasson, left with Harvey Milk; right, as "Fat Fairy"

Section 73, Plot 1470

 Robert Wasson, affectionately known in San Francisco’s queer community as the “Fat Fairy,” was a beloved drag performer, culinary professional, and activist figure during the transformative LGBTQ movements of the 1960s and 1970s. With his self-styled nickname, audacious humor, and signature flair, Wasson became an enduring part of the Bay Area's queer cultural landscape.

Wasson rose to prominence as a regular presence in drag performances and was an active member of both the Court de San Francisco and the Royal Court of Oakland—two cornerstone institutions of queer pageantry and activism. He is remembered for his appearances at community events and his bold participation in street-level politics, including his close friendship with civil rights pioneer Harvey Milk.

Professionally, Wasson was a chef for many years, most notably at the Pall Mall Grill on Haight Street, where he worked during the “Summer of Love” in 1967. Later, he transitioned into catering before settling into a quieter life as an employee at a bookstore in Oakland.

Newspaper account of gravemarker being place 3 1/2 years after death

Tragically, Wasson’s life was cut short during a robbery at the bookstore. When confronted by an armed assailant, he fought back, and was fatally shot in the torso. He died at the scene.

Robert Wasson’s funeral reflected his theatrical spirit and deep impact on the community. Attended by several hundred mourners and carried by eight pallbearers, his elaborate service featured his personal theme song, “If They Could See Me Now.” Per his final wishes, Wasson was interred in full drag regalia, wearing a light gray evening gown. A bottle of Pepsi and a bag of potato chips—his favorite snacks—were placed in his casket. His burial was reported on the evening news. A grave marker with the inscription “They Can See Me Now!” was placed nearly four years after his death.

Bois Frederick Burk (1906–1993): Early Gay Rights Advocate; Part of Kinsey Study

 

Bois Burk and Burial Vault

Main Mausoleum, Section 12, Crypt Niche 2, Tier 1

Bois Frederick Burk (1906–1993) was an early gay rights advocate, diarist, and archivist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, known for preserving a unique and candid record of mid-20th century gay life, culture, and activism. His papers, held by the GLBT Historical Society, provide an important window into the "homophile movement," the rise of gay liberation, and the personal experiences of gay men navigating social stigma, legal discrimination, and aging.

Born on November 4, 1906, in Kentfield, Marin County, California, Burk was the youngest of four sons raised on a five-acre ranch. His father, Frederic Lister Burk [featured on this site HERE], was a pioneering educator and the first president of San Francisco State Normal School (now San Francisco State University). His mother, Caroline Frear Burk, came from a prominent Hawaiian family.

Burk graduated from Tamalpais High School in 1924 and earned a degree in economics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1929, where he was president of the Cal Chess Club. He worked for insurance firms in San Francisco before joining the UC Berkeley Physical Education Department as a clerk in 1942. In 1956, he was forced to resign—apparently due to his homosexuality—though the circumstances remain unclear. A later attempt to obtain a federal job was rejected by the Civil Service Commission in 1959 on grounds of “gross immoral conduct.”

Burk lived a largely solitary life, never having a long-term partner, and resided in boarding houses and hotels around Berkeley. Despite frequent arrests related to public sexual activity and ongoing social marginalization, he was a tireless participant in the early gay rights movement. He was interviewed by Dr. Alfred Kinsey in the 1940s, became a member of the Mattachine Society in 1952, and actively participated in the League for Civil Education and the Society for Individual Rights during the 1960s. He embraced the philosophy of Gay Liberation after 1969 and attended many community events, leaving behind a trail of annotated programs and newspaper clippings.

In 1976, Burk filed and won a landmark age discrimination case against a gay bathhouse after being turned away for being “an old toad,” highlighting intersectional biases within the LGBTQ community. His extensive archives include autobiographical writings, correspondence, reflections on public sex and police entrapment, and records from local gay organizations. They are among the earliest and most personal documentary legacies of gay life in the Bay Area.

In his final years, Burk moved into a retirement facility in Berkeley under the care of relatives. He died on June 5, 1993, at the age of 86.

Sources: GLBT Historical Society, Bois Burk Papers; Online Archive of California (oac.cdlib.org); J. Howell Genealogical Database; Kinsey Institute, Find a Grave